Cold water & leg cramps

[Stargazer]

I've been on some cold water and some warm water dives over the past year, and here is the problem: on the cold water dives (water temps. between 45-60F) I end up with cramps in both legs (lower leg always) during the dive, making it a bit difficult to kick, so I look like a seal using my hands to move. But no problem on the warm water dives. I carry about 10 lbs more weight in cold water (24 lbs) as opposed to 14 lbs in warm water. I've been swimming regularly with fins on and doing leg exercises to build up strength, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference. Any suggestions on what's causing this kind of cramps and how to prevent them ?

 

[Don Burke]

I've been on some cold water and some warm water dives over the past year, and here is the problem: on the cold water dives (water temps. between 45-60F) I end up with cramps in both legs (lower leg always) during the dive, making it a bit difficult to kick, so I look like a seal using my hands to move. But no problem on the warm water dives. I carry about 10 lbs more weight in cold water (24 lbs) as opposed to 14 lbs in warm water. I've been swimming regularly with fins on and doing leg exercises to build up strength, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference. Any suggestions on what's causing this kind of cramps and how to prevent them ?

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the web.

My cramps seem to be related to how well hydrated I am, how accustomed the muscles are to the work they are doing, and how warm I keep the muscles.

Perhaps your exercise isn't addressing the way the muscles work when you are in your cold water gear. Maybe you can figure out a way to keep your lower legs a little warmer.

Hydration is cheap. I highly recommend giving it a try before you do much troubleshooting. I have found that I feel overall better if I get off the caffeine a good eighteen hours before I splash and make sure I'm well hydrated for several days beforehand.

 

[ScubaRon]

Not a doctor either, but I do occasionally have bad leg cramps and have been reading/asking about it.
General recommendations that I have received/read:
- make sure to get sufficient potassium
- make sure to get sufficient calcium
- exercise calf muscles as follows
> stand flat on your feet and slowly raise yourself until you on your toetips, then slowly lower yourself and repeat this a number of times.
> stand with your toes on a raised platform (e.g. a staircase step), then slowly lower the back part of your feet until it is several inches lower than your toes; then raise it back up.
My cramps are too infrequent to state whether it helps or not, but I figure that some yoghutr, a banana and a few minutes exercise per day can't be bad.

 

[beche de mer]

I've been on some cold water and some warm water dives over the past year, and here is the problem: on the cold water dives (water temps. between 45-60F) I end up with cramps in both legs (lower leg always) during the dive, making it a bit difficult to kick, so I look like a seal using my hands to move. But no problem on the warm water dives. I carry about 10 lbs more weight in cold water (24 lbs) as opposed to 14 lbs in warm water. I've been swimming regularly with fins on and doing leg exercises to build up strength, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference. Any suggestions on what's causing this kind of cramps and how to prevent them ?

Stargazer, I had exactly the same problem. Calf cramps in cold water. This is more than just a nuisance. It could become a safety issue. I noticed it mostly on the surface, swimming back to the boat.

I spent a lot of time searching the web and trying all sorts of things from bananas to calcium tablets to magesium supplements. I also tried training my way out of them by doing lots of pool laps. None of this stuff worked.

What eventually worked for me was quinine sulphate tablets. This is a pharmacologically active medication which increases the excitability threshold for muscle contraction. It's a prescription item in this country. I take 2 tablets a couple of hours before a cold dive. No more cramps.

You may not like taking a pharmacologically active substance, so by all means try other things first. But if all else fails, there's quinine sulphate. To the best of my knowledge, theres no problem with quinine sulphate and diving, but you might like to discuss it with a diving doc.

 

[Stargazer]

Thanks, everyone who responded - I now have some things to try. Particularly interested in the quinine sulphate idea - I will ask my physician about a prescription - I imagine that side effects would be well known and would have been described in the area of malaria prevention. I also agree that some additional exercise + bananas sounds like it couldn't hurt either.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Wow. I have been meaning to post about leg cramps, but haven't yet, so I am glad I found this thread.
For me, cold water is a bit warmer than your cold water. I never had leg cramps before this winter, when the water temps were below 73. Also, they were worse on the surface swim than at depth. I thought it was my wetsuit (new) that was too tight around the legs, but then it happened again wearing my skins. I walk a couple/few times a week, pretty briskly, but it must not be enough. And I eat fruit (bananas and apples) and eat my vitamins when I remember.
I think doing those calf muscle exercises mentioned above will be a help and also keeping myself hydrated, which I have not been drinking as much water as I should.

 

[stormgirl]

Please check out A Diver's Guide To Cramp on http://www.storm4divers.com . A full and comprehensive guide, will answer all your questions.
Stormgirl

 

[murphdivers286]

I don't mean this the wrong way, but it is nice to know that I'm not the only one with leg cramp problems. I also have tried supplements and excercise to solve the problem, but nothing really helps. The leg cramps happen for me every time I dive. I know going into the water, I will get at least one, if not more, leg cramp during the dive. My wife is very helpful. She will stop to rubbed them out so I can finish the dive without surfacing. I drink A LOT of water at least two days prior to diving. I exercise at least 4 times a week. I run 3-4 miles. I eat bananas. I take potassium pills. I take multivitamins. I'm also at a lost. Maybe I just need to get used to the fact that I will always get cramps while diving and deal with it. My leg cramps will never stop me from diving. If I can dive being extremely seasick, I think I can deal with leg cramps.

 

[rcohn]

I drink A LOT of water at least two days prior to diving. I exercise at least 4 times a week. I run 3-4 miles. I eat bananas. I take potassium pills. I take multivitamins. I'm also at a lost. Maybe I just need to get used to the fact that I will always get cramps while diving and deal with it. My leg cramps will never stop me from diving. If I can dive being extremely seasick, I think I can deal with leg cramps.

Specificity is a major principle in sports science. Running is great exercise, but it is not the same as kicking with fins. Perhaps if you added at least one pool session per week of kicking with your fins, you could make a difference.

You might also look at your kicking technique. If you constantly point your toes while kicking there is significant strain on the calf muscles. I've been experimenting with leaving my ankles loose and flexible which seems to work well with a narrow fast kick.

Ralph

 

[murphdivers286]

Specificity is a major principle in sports science. Running is great exercise, but it is not the same as kicking with fins. Perhaps if you added at least one pool session per week of kicking with your fins, you could make a difference.

You might also look at your kicking technique. If you constantly point your toes while kicking there is significant strain on the calf muscles. I've been experimenting with leaving my ankles loose and flexible which seems to work well with a narrow fast kick.

Ralph

Thank you. I will try your technique the next time I go diving.